How to Choose a Life Coach

Susan was disappointed with her complimentary coaching session. She was looking for someone to help her refine her goals and create action steps. All this person did was give her his goals for her and talk about himself. When she complained, he talked louder. I her and giving her bad advice. She did not return.

Mike wanted a coach to help him create a loving relationship with a partner. He lived an alternative lifestyle and needed someone to help him hear himself. He chose someone from the alternative lifestyle community designated as a mentor, but the mentor talked about sex all the time. Once he touched Mike inappropriately. He did not return.

Karen sought a coach to move forward from the robbery at her work. This coach demanded Karen sign contracts that locked her into many sessions before Karen knew if this would be right for her. Karen kept on searching for a coach.

You can find the coaching you want! It’s a puzzle you can solve.

After months of pondering their lives, people will feel an urgent urge to grow. Right now! So they turn to the first person who appears in their lives.

A little work and research will lead them to the help they seek. It’s a bit like solving a puzzle. The pieces don’t seem to fit togeher. If you work the puzzle, however, the puzzle itself gets clearer and clearer.

Finding the right coach for you might require effort. Coaching is not a licensed profession and anyone can SAY they are a coach. That doesn’t mean they are. One puzzle piece is: Look for a certified coach or a board certified coach.

There are different schools of coaching. Different approaches. And each coach is uniquely themselves with their very own personality. Some will be compatible with you. Some won’t. You’ll want to find the coach who fits with you.

Below I list some of the more important puzzle pieces.

These are some of the qualities that your coaching should provide.

Improvement: Coaching is supposed to help you reach goals designed by you.

Open Communication: Look for the encouragement to speak your mind.

Listening Actively: Expect to be heard and understood.

Believe in You: Your coach must be able to visualize you as successful.

Encouraging You: Coaching offers encouragement and space for you to try new behaviors.

Sharing The Power: Coaching is an equal relationship.

Limits: Know that your boundaries will not be violated.

Actions You Can Take

There are actions you can take to increase the success of your coaching experience.

• Get an idea of what you want to achieve with a coach.
• Choose someone you like, admire, and feel comfortable with.
• Ask your friends or relatives for the name of a coach they trust.
• Take your time to develop trust.·
• Keep setting goals for yourself.
• Check to see if you are meeting your goals in coaching.
• Let your coach know when you are not getting what you need.
• Trust your gut instincts instead of the coaches words.
• Be open to change.
• Ask questions you need to ask.

You can tell a lot about the coach by how they respond to your questions, comments, and requests. I list a checklist of questions to ask below. You may ask any of these questions. If you don’t understand the answers, ask again.

Questions You Can Ask

Qualifications
1. What is your educational background?
2. Are you certified?
3. Which certification do you have? And what are the requirements?
4. What experiences have you had with my type of problem?

Coaching Approaches
1. What is your specialty?
2. How does it work?
3. About how long will it take?
4. What should I do if I feel coaching isn’t working?

Support Groups
1. Do you work with people who go to support groups?
2. Do you refer people to support groups?
3. How does this work with your type of coaching?

Appointments
1. How are appointments scheduled?
2. How long are sessions?
3. Do you allow contact between sessions?
4. Is there a fee for that?

Fees1. What does it cost?2. Do you require contracts?3. What arrangements do you make for payment? How do I need to pay?4. Do you bill clients?5. How do you handle cancellations?6. Do I need to pay for telephone calls or letters?

Confidentiality
1. What kind of records do you keep & where do you keep them?
2. Who gets to see your records?
3. Do you tell people what we talk about?
4. How do you handle information when you work with children?
5. How do you handle information when you work with couples or families?

Sign up for a $10.00 Initial Consultation.

I allocate 30 minutes for this meeting. Our purpose is to explore possibilities and options for working together. I’ll want to know your goals and dreams. You’ll want to know if I’m the right coach for you.

agentledrlaura

I am a Board Certified Coach, National Certified Counselor, Certified Clinical Mental Health Counselor and an expert in the field of trauma-informed living. In addition to my own history of recovery from early childhood horrors, I have dedicated my life to helping people learn to thrive after trauma. I work online and on the telephone with children, adults, relationships, and people recovering in 12 step programs. I use a coaching approach that emphasizes your strengths instead of weakness, damage, and defect. I work individually, in families and in groups.